Three police officers killed in Afghanistan suicide bombing

Attack comes hours after similar incident in Kandahar province, where two children were wounded

KABUL - At least three police officers were killed and 11 others were injured when a suicide bomber ripped his explosive-laden car into a police convoy Sunday in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province, authorities said.

Omar Zawak, provincial governor spokesman, said the attacker targeted the convoy in Nahr-e-Seraj district as it was heading to neighboring Kandahar province.

“I can confirm the suicide attack on the police convoy in Shurabak, near the former U.S. base,” he said.

The attack comes hours after a similar incident in Kandahar province, where two children were wounded. A suicide bomber there had targeted the provincial council chief, who was not injured.

“The terrorists had planned to wear military uniforms and, with fake IDs, enter the interior ministry compound and target a meeting of ministry officials,” authorities said.

A spate of high profile attacks has increased in Afghanistan since Afghan security forces assumed full responsibility of the country’s security on Dec. 31, 2014, as the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force ended its 13-year combat mission.

From Jan. 1, 2015, the mission evolved into training and advising the nascent Afghan security forces.

The 13,000 foreign troops for the Resolute Support Mission are from 28 NATO allies and 14 other partner nations.